• Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • X
  • YouTube
National Park Photographer Rectangle Logo
  • National Parks
    • National Park List and Map
    • National Park Wildlife
    • Acadia National Park
    • Arches National Park
    • Badlands National Park
    • Big Bend National Park
    • Biscayne National Park
    • Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
    • Bryce Canyon National Park
    • Canyonlands National Park
    • Capitol Reef National Park
    • Carlsbad Caverns National Park
    • Channel Islands National Park
    • Congaree National Park
    • Crater Lake National Park
    • Cuyahoga Valley National Park
    • Death Valley National Park
    • Denali National Park and Preserve
    • Dry Tortugas National Park
    • Everglades National Park
    • Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
    • Gateway Arch National Park
    • Glacier National Park
    • Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
    • Grand Canyon National Park
    • Grand Teton National Park
    • Great Basin National Park
    • Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
    • Great Smoky Mountains National Park
    • Guadalupe Mountains National Park
    • Haleakalā National Park
    • Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
    • Hot Springs National Park
    • Indiana Dunes National Park
    • Isle Royale National Park
    • Joshua Tree National Park
    • Katmai National Park and Preserve
    • Kenai Fjords National Park
    • Kings Canyon National Park
    • Kobuk Valley National Park
    • Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
    • Lassen Volcanic National Park
    • Mammoth Cave National Park
    • Mesa Verde National Park
    • Mount Rainier National Park
    • National Park of American Samoa
    • New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
    • North Cascades National Park
    • Olympic National Park
    • Petrified Forest National Park
    • Pinnacles National Park
    • Redwood National and State Parks
    • Rocky Mountain National Park
    • Saguaro National Park
    • Sequoia National Park
    • Shenandoah National Park
    • Theodore Roosevelt National Park
    • Virgin Islands National Park
    • Voyageurs National Park
    • White Sands National Park
    • Wind Cave National Park
    • Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
    • Yellowstone National Park
    • Yosemite National Park
    • Zion National Park
  • Featured National Park Photographers
  • Shop

Canyonlands National Park Wildlife

Desert Bighorn Sheep, Canyonlands, Utah | Photo Credit: NPS \ Jennifer Anderson
Desert Bighorn Sheep, Canyonlands, Utah | Photo Credit: NPS \ Jennifer Anderson

Canyonlands National Park, located in southeastern Utah, is a vast wilderness of canyons, mesas, and buttes carved by the Colorado River, supporting a diverse range of wildlife uniquely adapted to its arid environment. This dramatic landscape is home to larger mammals such as mule deer, coyotes, and the elusive mountain lion, which traverse its rugged terrain. Smaller mammals, including black-tailed jackrabbits, desert cottontails, and numerous rodent species, thrive in the park’s varied habitats. Reptiles such as collared lizards, gopher snakes, and the distinctive side-blotched lizard are commonly seen basking on rocks. Birdlife is abundant, with golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, and peregrine falcons soaring above, while canyon wrens and white-throated swifts flit among the cliffs.

The park’s water sources, though scarce, provide essential respite for many species, creating oases of life in the desert landscape. Canyonlands National Park offers a rich tapestry of wildlife, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of species in an arid and often harsh environment, and providing visitors with unforgettable wildlife viewing opportunities. Keep reading to see featured photos of Canyonlands wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.

Featured Canyonlands National Park Wildlife Photographs

Black Widow
Black Widow | Photo Credit: NPS Neal Herbert
Chipmunk
Chipmunk | Photo Credit: NPS Mackenzie Reed
Common Raven
Common Raven | Photo Credit: NPS Neal Herbert
Desert Bighorn Sheep
Desert Bighorn Sheep | Photo Credit: NPS Jennifer Anderson
Spiny Lizard
Spiny Lizard | Photo Credit: NPS Kirsten Kearse
Western Plateau Lizard
Western Plateau Lizard | Photo Credit: NPS Kirsten Kearse

Have a National Park Wildlife photograph you’d like featured? Contact us today to learn more!

ADVERTISEMENT

Wildlife Photography Tips

Wildlife photography in the US National Parks offers a unique and enriching experience, as these protected areas are havens for diverse species and pristine natural landscapes. Capturing wildlife in such settings requires preparation and respect for both the environment and its inhabitants. Photographers should familiarize themselves with the specific animals and ecosystems of the park they are visiting, as each park hosts different species and behaviors. Early mornings and late afternoons, known as the golden hours, provide the best light and increased wildlife activity. Different seasons also offer different wildlife viewing opportunities. Patience and stillness are key, as the best moments often come to those who wait quietly.

If wildlife does present itself, always make sure to maintain a safe distance. Using a telephoto lens allows for close-up shots without intruding on the animals’ space. If you already own or want to own a professional grade mirrored camera like the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR, we recommend using a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L is II USM Lens zoom lens for wildlife photography. If you have or are interested in a newer mirrorless model like the Canon EOS R5 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera, we recommend using a Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 is USM Black for long distance shots.

Not quite ready to invest in traditional professional grade camera equipment, but want to enhance the quality of your cell phone photographs? Consider using a Moment 58mm Tele Lens for an improved zoom and be sure you have a compatible phone case to mount your new lens in. Since cell phones don’t have the same zoom distance and quality as traditional professional cameras, be extra mindful about your distance from wildlife when photographing them and don’t get too close. As with any visit to a national park, it’s important to follow park regulations, practice “Leave No Trace” principles, and prioritize safety while photographing wildlife.

Spiny Lizard, Canyonlands, Utah | Photo Credit: NPS \ Kirsten Kearse
Spiny Lizard, Canyonlands, Utah | Photo Credit: NPS \ Kirsten Kearse

Canyonlands Wildlife Education and Resources

Want to learn more about Canyonlands National Park and the wildlife that inhabits it? Check out these guides & books:

  • Peterson Field Guide To Mammals Of North America: Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
  • Peterson Field Guide To Birds Of Eastern & Central North America, Seventh Ed. (Peterson Field Guides)
  • Peterson Field Guide To Birds Of Western North America, Fifth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
  • Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song
  • Peterson Field Guide To Reptiles And Amphibians Eastern & Central North America (Peterson Field Guides)
  • Peterson Field Guide To Western Reptiles & Amphibians, Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
  • Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, Second Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
  • Animal Tracks: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Familiar North American Species (Wildlife and Nature Identification)

Please note, by making purchases through our affiliate links, you are supporting our mission to celebrate and showcase our National Parks and the photographers who frequent them. As an Amazon Associate, National Park Photographer earns from qualifying purchases at not cost to you. We appreciate your support.

ADVERTISEMENT

Canyonlands National Park Species List

The wildlife at Canyonlands National Park is beautiful and diverse. There are a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish to view. Check out all the incredible species this park has to offer! Click on the links below to see the different animal species that inhabit Canyonlands National Park:

Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish

Canyonlands National Park Mammals

NameAbundance

*It is not known for certain if this species is actually in the park. This species is marked by the National Park Service as “Probably Present” in Canyonlands National Park.

Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
ADVERTISEMENT

Canyonlands National Park Birds

NameAbundance

*It is not known for certain if this species is actually in the park. This species is marked by the National Park Service as “Probably Present” in Canyonlands National Park.

Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
ADVERTISEMENT

Canyonlands National Park Reptiles

NameAbundance

*It is not known for certain if this species is actually in the park. This species is marked by the National Park Service as “Probably Present” in Canyonlands National Park.

Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
ADVERTISEMENT

Canyonlands National Park Amphibians

NameAbundance

*It is not known for certain if this species is actually in the park. This species is marked by the National Park Service as “Probably Present” in Canyonlands National Park.

Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
ADVERTISEMENT

Canyonlands National Park Fish

NameAbundance

*It is not known for certain if this species is actually in the park. This species is marked by the National Park Service as “Probably Present” in Canyonlands National Park.

Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish

Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present or probably present in Canyonlands National Park. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.

ADVERTISEMENT

Do you want to be featured on National Park Photographer?

Why wait! Contact us today at nationalparkphoto@gmail.com for more information!

References:

  • National Park Species List
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • X
  • YouTube
  • Elara Pro by LyraThemes.com
  • ©2024 National Park Photographer, LLC